(NBC News) – Health care sharing ministries advertise reimbursements for members’ medical bills. But they are largely unregulated, and most have restrictions on maternity coverage.

One service ministries commonly restrict is maternity care, for which many require a waiting period before a member is eligible to be reimbursed, according to a Government Accountability Office report. An NBC News analysis found that at least eight of the 10 largest ministries have such restrictions.

By contrast, under the Affordable Care Act, most health insurance plans are required to cover pregnancy and childbirth care as essential services, even if a member becomes pregnant before their coverage starts. (Read More)